NO RESTRICTION NECESSARY

Southland Times, Issue 24547, 23 September 1941, Page 6

NO RESTRICTION NECESSARY

BROADCASTING HOURS IN DOMINION (P.A.) AUCKLAND, September 22. Recent suggestions to reduce broadcasting hours to save electricity have not been approved by the authorities. Information which the Waitemata Electric Power Board received today from the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities Association stated that the Electricity Controller had told the association that it was not considered advisable to make any change at present. The controller advised the association that the matter had been fully investigated and carefully considered by the Government. From reports received from the Director of the National Broadcasting Service and the Controller of the National Commercial Service it appeared that the saving in electricity would not be as great as the association had suggested. “To make an appreciable saving,” said the controller, “it would be necessary to cease broadcasting during the hours of maximum listeners, say, between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The position with regard to the power supply does not appear to warrant such a drastic step, and such step would undoubtedly cause irritation and resentment. There is also another - most important aspect, and that is, if the hours of broadcasting for New Zealand stations are curtailed, a very considerable number of listeners would tune into stations outside New Zealand during such hours. Considering all the circumstances and after careful study of reports, it is not considered advisable to make any change at present.”